FM – L2 – Q57 – DCF: Taxation and Inflation

CVB Ltd is considering whether to invest in new equipment costing GH¢600,000. The equipment is expected to have an economic life of five years and will have no disposal value at the end of Year 5 (and no disposal costs).
CVB’s after-tax cost of capital is 15%. Tax is charged at an annual rate of 35% and is payable in the year following the year in which the taxable profits arise.
The following forecasts relate to the project under consideration:

Year GH¢000
1 2 3 4 5
Sales income 250 250 300 350 400
Direct materials 50 55 58 64 70
Direct labour 25 25 30 30 35
Total direct costs 75 75 88 94 105
Depreciation 120 120 120 120 120

There will be tax allowances on the cost of the equipment, calculated at 25% each year on the reducing balance basis. The first depreciation tax allowance (capital allowance) would be claimed in year 0 (or very early in year 1).
Assume that:
(1) taxable profits are defined as income minus direct costs and capital allowances
(2) cash profits in each year = sales minus direct costs
Required
Calculate the net present value of the project and recommend whether or not the project should be undertaken.

Tax allowances on the investment

Year of claim Tax saving (35% of allowance) Cash flow year
Cost GH¢600,000
0 Allowance (25%) (150,000) 1
450,000
1 Allowance (25%) (112,500) 2
337,500
2 Allowance (25%) (84,375) 3
253,125
3 Allowance (25%) (63,281) 4
189,844
4 Allowance (25%) (47,461) 5
142,383 どこ
5 Disposal 0 6
142,383

Note: It is assumed that the company has taxable profits against which it can claim an allowance in Year 0 (or early in Year 1).

Year 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
GH¢000 GH¢000 GH¢000 GH¢000 GH¢000 GH¢000 GH¢000
Sales 250 250 300 350 400
Materials (50) (55) (58) (64) (70)
Labour (25) (25) (30) (30) (35)
Cash profits 175 170 212 256 295
Tax at 35% (61) (60) (74) (90) (103)
Capital equipment 600
Cash effect of allowances 53 39 30 22 17 50
Net cash flow (600) 228 148 182 204 222 (53)
DCF at 15% 1.000 0.870 0.756 0.658 0.572 0.497 0.432
PV of cash flow (600) 198 112 120 117 110 (23)

The project is just worthwhile, because the NPV is + GH¢34,000. However, the NPV is quite small in relation to the size of the capital investment, and in view of the fact that it is a five-year project.
It might be appropriate to carry out some risk and uncertainty analysis on the project, before deciding whether or not to undertake it.